Latest News

Actively Passive or Passively Active?

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The maturity and prevalence of indexing on the equity markets have undeniably blurred the lines between active and passive management. Investors should be concerned because what appears to be a rules-based, transparent, low-cost strategy may involve hidden active choices that influence returns, risk and transaction costs.

PPLI and PPVA: Vehicles for tax-efficient growth

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It’s said nothing in life is certain save death and taxes. There is also certainly an increase in investors’ appetites for nontraditional instruments like hedge funds as their wealth grows.

Get Ready for Tomorrow's Midyear Market Outlook Symposium

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TMX VettaFi has gathered industry experts and thought leaders for the Midyear Market Outlook Symposium happening June 26 at 11 a.m. ET.

AI Chatbots: Transforming Wealth Management Through Innovation

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Wealth management firms that embrace AI chatbots and continuously refine their data strategies can stay ahead of the curve and deliver superior value to their clients.

The Stone Age of Economic Reporting: Skip the Archaic Methodologies When Assessing Market

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Why are we still making high-stakes economic policy based on lagging surveys and statistical approximations? The answer lies in a system that hasn't kept pace with modern realities.

The Stone Age of Economic Reporting: Skip the Archaic Methodologies When Assessing the Market

1750864112 from ADVSRPERSP

Why are we still making high-stakes economic policy based on lagging surveys and statistical approximations? The answer lies in a system that hasn't kept pace with modern realities.

‘King Dollar’ Challenged…But Not Vanquished: Still No Substitute for the World’s Reserve Currency

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While both valuation and technical factors suggest to us that the dollar may continue to weaken in the near-term, we would caution investors against reading too much concerning the US’ long-term economic stability into further dollar weakness.

Robotics Is Real. The Discount Is Too

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During our June 5th ROBO Global Webcast, we covered three key themes driving the robotics and AI investment landscape.

New Home Sales Retreat to 7-Month Low

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New home sales retreated in May, experiencing their largest monthly decline in nearly three years. Meanwhile the median price for a new home remained above $400,000 for a sixth straight month.

Determining Cultural Fit: 25 Key Questions

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If you are considering merging or acquiring another practice, consider having each party answer some of the following questions to see where you both stand.

Bond Traders May Have Found the Next Greece

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Just when the International Monetary Fund sees slower growth around the globe, the economy the World Bank ranks 112 out of 196 based on gross domestic product is leading everyone – with the opposite outlook.

AQR Bets on Levered Trades in First New US Mutual Funds in Years

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AQR Capital Management is doubling down on a strategy that seeks to juice returns with leverage for its first new US mutual funds in four years.

Qatar-Linked Private Bank to Expand BlackRock Wealth Offerings

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One of Europe’s largest pure-play banks, which is controlled by members of Qatar’s ruling family, is expanding a partnership with BlackRock Inc. to bolster its investing services.

JPMorgan Asset CEO Warns of Private Credit Froth, Touts High-Yield Debt

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Froth in the red-hot private credit marketplace is creating opportunities in the world of public high-yield debt, according to George Gatch, JPMorgan Asset Management’s chief executive officer.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Haven Status Tested by Mideast Crisis

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The United Arab Emirates has managed to thrive during global instability, drawing capital during the Arab Spring, opening up quickly during the pandemic and attracting Russian money after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Trump Policies Will Cut Deficits Up to $11 Trillion, White House Economist Says

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President Donald Trump’s economic policies will reduce US fiscal deficits by up to $11 trillion over the coming decade, according to the White House’s chief economist — a projection at variance with independent analysis.

Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin Holds Above $100K for 7th Straight Week

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Bitcoin's closing price remained above $100,000 for a seventh straight week, extending its longest streak in history. BTC is up ~12 year to date and is ~5% below its record high from May 2025.

Raymond James Ltd. Announces Strategic Investment in Next-Generation Wealth Management Platform

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Raymond James Ltd enters into agreement with FNZ to accelerate its digital transformation

Customize to Optimize: Combining Fixed Income and Direct Indexing

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How do direct indexing ideas fit into a fixed income portfolio? These two powerful strategies make one compelling combination with potential tax and risk management opportunities.

What's Going On…With Inflation

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Inflation's trend has been favorable this year, but a growing conflict in Iran—combined with already-imposed tariffs—might put upward pressure in prices later this year.

Strategies for Equity Growth Investors

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Newsflow and misperceptions can obscure the drivers of profit growth—especially during a volatile year like 2025.

Fixed Income Focus

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Doug Drabik discusses fixed income market conditions and offers insight for bond investors.

U.S. Bonds Are Still Popular

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Foreign demand for U.S. Treasuries remains intact.

The Dollar’s Death Is Greatly Exaggerated

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The recent decline in the dollar relative to other currencies is well within historical norms. Notably, previous declines were much larger without the “fear-mongering” from the “experts of doom.”

Markets Taking U.S. Strike Well

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The U.S. strike on Iran over the weekend has added a modest premium to oil, and in the Sunday evening market, stocks opened only slightly lower. Any resolution to the crisis could send stocks to new all-time highs.

A Concerning Press Conference From the Fed Chairman

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We have seen a lack of conviction from the Federal Reserve (Fed) in previous opportunities. Last year, during the first quarter, Fed members were spooked, as inflation numbers moved higher, changing their view on the path forward regarding interest rates.

Gas Prices Jump to 11-Week High

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Gas prices jumped to their highest level in eleven weeks. As of June 23rd, the price of regular and premium gas were each up 7 cents from the previous week.

Private Equity in Volatile Markets: Vintage Diversification & Manager Quality Matter

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While private equity can deliver attractive entry points — particularly in dislocated markets — success hinges on investing with established, top-tier managers and maintaining deliberate vintage diversification.

Getting the Flexibility to Serve Clients as You’d Like To

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Whether you’re breaking away from a wirehouse and going independent for the first time or looking for a greater degree of balance, there are opportunities for advisors to truly manage their practice the way they choose.

Protecting Elders From Financial Exploitation

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One serious risk to financial wellbeing in retirement that is difficult to talk about is financial exploitation. Someone whose cognitive abilities are declining is vulnerable to harm from both financial predators and their own financial misjudgments.

Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Closed-End Funds

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Financial advisors seeking innovative strategies for income generation and portfolio diversification should take a closer look at closed-end funds (CEFs). With distinct structural features that allow for strategic investment opportunities, CEFs present both potential rewards and inherent risks.

Consumer Confidence Retreats in June

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The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index® retreated in June, paring back nearly half of May's gains. The index fell 5.4 points to 93.0 this month, marking its sixth monthly decline in the past seven months.

Richmond Fed Manufacturing Activity Remained Soft in June

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Fifth district manufacturing activity remained soft in June, according to the most recent survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. The composite manufacturing index rose two points this month to -7, remaining in negative territory for a fourth straight month. This month's reading was higher than the forecast of -10.

Wall Street Says Buy Tech as Geopolitical Risks Often Contained

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As tensions in the Middle East mounted to start the week, Wall Street strategists had a message for US equities investors: Stay calm and buy into market declines. The call looked prescient on Tuesday after President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index: Annual Gains Continue to Slow

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Home prices declined in April as the benchmark national index fell for a second straight month. The seasonally adjusted home prices for the national index saw a 0.4% decrease month-over-month and a 2.7% increase year-over-year. This marks the third straight month of year-over-year declines and is the smallest annual gain since August 2023. After adjusting for inflation, the monthly change fell to -0.8% and annual change fell to -1.5%.

The Bernanke Consensus on Oil Shocks is Truer Than Ever

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If we’ve seen the worst of the oil price shock from the Israel-Iran conflict, then another ostensible impediment to Federal Reserve interest rate cuts may have just disappeared.

FHFA House Price Index Down 0.4% in April

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The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) house price index (HPI) fell to 434.9 in April, the first monthly decline since August 2022. U.S. house prices were down 0.4% from the previous month, lower than the expected 0.1% growth, and up 3.0% from one year ago.

Apple Has No Need to Panic-Buy Its Way to AI Glory

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Now that the Big Tech conference season is behind us, the smart money in Apple Land is saying that Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook should be preparing to open his checkbook for a huge AI deal, so apparent are the company’s shortcomings.

Millennium's $14 Billion Valuation Hinges on Scarcity

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Investors have been waiting years for the chance to buy a stake in hedge fund Millennium Management.

Back to the Supply Side

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The current round of budget discussions in Washington will have a significant impact on America’s fiscal trajectory decades into the future. A key underpinning of this year’s debate has roots that go decades into the past.

Value of an Advisor 10th Anniversary Edition: The Importance of an Experienced Guide June

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When navigating the unknown, an experienced guide can ensure you don’t veer off the path to your chosen destination, can prevent you from stumbling over hazards, and ensure you have the tools you need to finish the journey safely and soundly.

Fed Watch: In No Hurry

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For the fourth meeting in a row, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided to keep rates unchanged, leaving the Fed Funds trading range at 4.25%–4.50%.

Gold Surpasses Euro as the Second-Largest Reserve Currency in the World

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The U.S. Dollar Index, when measured against a basket of other major currencies, has declined by approximately 10% this year through mid-June and is currently trading at its lowest level in three years.

Central Bank Gold Buying Recedes, But Not Likely to Falter

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Like all appetites, the consumer typically reaches some point of appeasement. That could be the case for central bank gold purchases, which have started to show signs of receding. But market experts do not see it faltering anytime soon.

Siemens Is Battling Big Tech for AI Supremacy at Factories

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In a new Siemens AG factory that makes large switchboards for data centers in Fort Worth, Texas, artificial intelligence is doing a lot of work.

Mirror-Image Quarters and Iran

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Looking back on it, the first quarter of the year was a complete anomaly. Real GDP declined at a 0.2% annual rate, and the left side of the political spectrum said this proved current policies were a disaster.

The Top Reason to Consider a Multisector Fund for a Core Bond Allocation

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Portfolio Managers John Kerschner and John Lloyd and Client Portfolio Manager Steve Preikschat investigate the case for multisector bond funds as a core fixed income allocation.

Fed’s Bowman Says ‘Time Has Come’ to Revisit Key Capital Buffer

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Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman warned the current approach to leverage ratio requirements has led to unintended consequences in the market while adding she could support lowering interest rates as soon as July.

World Markets Watchlist: June 23, 2025

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Eight of the nine indexes on our world watch list have posted gains through June 23, 2025. Hong Kong's Hang Seng is in the top spot with a year to date gain of 20.72%. Germany's DAXK is in second with a year to date gain of 13.32% while Canada's TSX is in third with a year to date gain of 6.87%.

The Bubble – Contains the Collapse – Contains the Resurgence

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When investors approach the financial markets, there’s a tendency to imagine that conditions can be judged as favorable or unfavorable based on one single measure or another. The fact is that market conditions at any moment in time are a composite of interdependent forces.